“Oh, there’ll be a Christine all right,” he said.
“I’m casting Birdie.”
“You must be joking!” Joan gasped and Phee laughed derisively.
“And she’s going to be a massive success, so keep your bitter bitch ways away from her.”
I said nothing as Forrest pulled me further down the hallway and away from all the flashing cameras. Becausewhat the hell.
I could not believe Forrest was this desperate to get back together that he was literally attempting to cast me in a dream role—that I knew perfectly well was for classical singers and nothing to do with my style of singing.
Such a cocky, arrogant bastard.
I pulled away and spun around to face my ex. He was breathing hard, his broad chest rising and falling.
“I’ll have to see if it fits in my schedule with my new producer.”
“Birdie, what are you doing? Please. I want to produce your album.”
He seemed genuinely hurt and confused as hell.
“Don’t you know the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else?”
“Birdie, get under me or or no one else.”
He was crowding me, that expensive-ass cologne invading my nostrils. I met him glare for glare, refusing to back up, feeling the heat and anger pulse between us as his cock dug into my belly.
I prodded my finger into his shirt, feeling heat through my skin.
“Back up, asshole.”
“Do youreallywant me to? I can practically taste your arousal, baby girl.”
“Yes, I do. This may shock you, but you can’t get out of this one with your dick, Forrest. It doesn’t matter what you can do in the bedroom. Youleft me at the fucking altar. For your ex-wife.”
He winced.
“And now you think you can come back and expect to get forgiveness. Well, you can’t.”
“Birdie.”
His hand was on my elbow, burning me up, sending waves of heat flowing through my body.
“Sing the lead. Sing Christine’s part.”
It was infuriating. Even though I knew perfectly well it wasn’t suited to my low, raspy singing voice, that had always been my dream role. I’d had the whole damn play memorized since I was a teenager.
And now Forrest was proposing to give it to me.
“In exchange for forgiving you, I assume? I will have to decline.”
“No. No strings attached.”
“There’s always goddamn strings attached with you.”
“I just want a chance to prove to you I’m committed to showcasing your voice. That I’m sorry for selfishly keeping it to myself. I should have been the one this whole time leading the way for you to be a superstar.”
My god, the man was persistent.
